Usually, when a team goes DB heavy, it’s to neutralize a passing game. But the Chargers believed they had to match the speed of Jackson and felt they could do so because they have a very athletic and sure-tackling secondary.

“Our defensive coaches felt like against this quarterback, it would be good to go small, because [the DBs] can help in coverage and they can help track Lamar,” Chargers head coach Anthony Lynn told Vrentas. “And it worked. Now, we were prepared to go a different direction if it didn’t work. But for the most part, it worked today.”

“The DBs were better suited to match Jackson’s speed, which offset the gamble of using a smaller lineup to stop an offense that had been averaging more than 200 rushing yards per game in Jackson's seven starts since he took over for Flacco. The Ravens finished with just 90 rushing yards on Sunday.”

“Lamar Jackson ran a 4.3,” Jenkins said. “We needed some fast guys, right? We needed guys who could run sideline to sideline and still help in the passing game if they got fooled. Not saying our linebackers couldn’t do it, but let’s be honest, DBs are faster than linebackers.”

When the Rex Ryan-coached Jets began having success against the Patriots, it’s because they’d flood the short middle with defensive backs and force Tom Brady to throw outside where he often didn’t have big-time talent at wide receiver. Lynn was on Ryan’s staff in New York and in Buffalo as well.

The Patriots' eventual answer became better personnel and the development of tight ends Rob Gronkowski and Aaron Hernandez.

But the 2018 Patriots are back to being under-equipped in the passing game. Julian Edelman is the focal point and their best (only) wideout capable of winning consistently in 1-on-1 situations. Gronk looked better in Week 17 but he’s been so inconsistent it’s hard to bet on his production.

Besides, L.A. has two All-Pros – Desmond King and Derwin James – who will check Edelman and Gronk frequently. Forcing Brady off of his preferred options and onto Phillip Dorsett and Chris Hogan seems a winning defensive strategy.

But the Patriots’ counter is the diversity in their running game. They can use power with Sony Michel and fullback James Develin. Or they can use that rocket/jet/biplane/zeppelin (whatever air vehicle we’re using to describe it this week) motion and get action going side-to-side.

Speed on the field is great when you’re hauling down a willowy quarterback. How about when you’re getting a fullback and running back shoved down your throat? If the Chargers go more conventional to address the Patriots running game, then they may get a steady dose of play-action.

The bottom line to this is there is going to be a big feeling-out process at the start of this game where the Patriots try to divine the Chargers' defensive game plan.

Vrentas asked Lynn about the old Jets and Bills game plans against Brady where multiple DBs were used.

The predictability of that scheme, even when there’s great talent carrying it out, has been an Achilles heel that Brady and McDaniels attack.

How do the Chargers try to cover up that heel? And does that open up a new spot for New England to exploit?

What the Chargers did to the Ravens Sunday – what they’ve done all year in going 8-1 on the road and winning in difficult venues – is impressive. And their roster is loaded with the kind of young talent that promises a nice run of success.

But the Patriots' backyard is lousy with the shallow graves of “young and impressive” teams that got big-brained right into the offseason.

The Chargers will have to buck a trend.

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Brady's first Super Bowl title, ironically enough, came 17 years ago when the Patriots beat the then-St. Louis Rams 20-17 on Adam Vinatieri's game-winning field goal. Goff was just seven years old when that Super Bowl was played.

Brady has been great in the playoffs so far, including Sunday's AFC Championship Game win against the Kansas City Chiefs in overtime. He led a go-ahead drive late in the fourth quarter and won the game in overtime with another clutch drive highlighted by multiple third-down conversions. Goff, in fairness, played pretty well himself against the New Orleans Saints in the NFC Championship Game and led a late drive to tie the game late, and like Brady, engineered a game-winning march in OT.

Goff is one of the best young quarterbacks in the NFL. So is Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes, and Brady forced him to wait at least another season before lifting the Lombardi Trophy, and you can bet the Patriots QB is dead set on making Goff wait as well.

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Rob Gronkowski admits Patriots-Chiefs was "biggest team win" of his career

Rob Gronkowski admits Patriots-Chiefs was "biggest team win" of his career

Rob Gronkowski has played in a lot of important games for the New England Patriots, and Sunday's thrilling AFC Championship win in overtime against the Kansas City Chiefs will stand out in the veteran tight end's mind for a very long time.

"It was just the biggest team win, I would say, probably that I've been a part of," Gronkowski told ESPN's Jeff Darlington. "Going on the road, winning a playoff game, which I never have -- been on the road for playoff games but never won one on the road, so this one's special."

Gronkowski hauled in six receptions for 79 yards on nine targets. His clutch third-down conversion on the Patriots' final drive in regulation was a remarkable catch, and it helped set up running back Rex Burkhead's go-ahead score with less than a minute left on the clock. The 29-year-old tight end, like he did in the AFC Divisional Round win over the Los Angeles Chargers, also dominated the Chiefs as a blocker in the run game.

Injuries prevented Gronkowski from playing in Super Bowl LI, but he played in Super Bowl XLIX and Super Bowl LII and caught a touchdown in both games. You know he'll be itching to catch another score against the Los Angeles Rams in Super Bowl LIII in what could be his last game as a Patriot.

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